Corky Booze - Richmond City Councilman

[mototireguy]

Giving politicians a run for the wackjob prize.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakla...n-gets-called-on-his-junk/Content?oid=3487459

How does he get elected and re-elected you might ask. It appears that Chevron contributes $200k to his campaign because he votes their way.

And how can you lose with campaign slogans based on Vote For Booze!

Ironically, the Richmond chapter of the NAACP awarded Booze with its Peace and Freedom Award in February despite the allegations that he is abusive and engages in divisive, race-baiting tactics. Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles, who, like Booze, is African-American, called the award a "mockery."

 

[afm199]

Waht an asswipe. He should move to Oakland, where he'd have company on the city council.

 

[Beauregard]

LOL Richmond.

 

[}Dragon{]

Nobel Peace Prize potential.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Pronounced Bu-ZAY!..,

 

[greener]

Pronounced Bu-ZAY!..,

 

[Johndicezx9]

^

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

Thompson, who at the time was 64 years old, had been a tireless volunteer for Booze's council campaign, and after he was elected, she volunteered to be his chief of staff.

According to the police report summary, on September 19, Thompson showed up at a MacDonald Street office building that Booze had used during his campaign. Thompson believed she had interrupted Booze in a romantic tryst with another city staffer, a much younger woman who Thompson considered her rival for Booze's attentions. Thompson found Booze in a state of undress, and the two argued. Thompson then resigned her position as Booze's chief of staff.

At one point, according the police report summary, Booze began pushing Thompson, who had recently had hip surgery and uses a cane to walk. Thompson fell to the ground and Booze dragged her by the ankle through the campaign office and out onto MacDonald Street, where he left her lying on the sidewalk, according to the police report summary. Thompson's claims of a head injury and chest injuries were verified by a Kaiser emergency room medical report, the summary stated.

What sort of asshole pushes an old lady to the ground and drags her around?
Maybe getting his head battered into paste with her cane would teach him that you don't knock around little old ladies. :|

 

[Bay Arean]

I have been following him for decades as I was active in Richmond politics to a degree.

Basically, he got involved in City Council because he didn't want to clean up his yard (he's got a yard on Carlson, I think, with a bunch of "valuable treasures" as my Dad likes to call his own junkpile up in the country). I kid you not. He is sort of like our Fred Sanford, without the charm. He had to keep appearing at Council meetings to fight the notices, etc. and lived through a few reforms periods, when the city aggressively cleaned up crack houses and blight (the short but inspirational time of Henry Tingle, public works director; ol Henry couldn't survive the heat he generated towing cars and such).

He ran over and over again unsuccessfully, then he finally won. He's a nice enough guy in person but you have seen some of his shenanigans since taking office. In fact, he's friendlier than a lot of our past leaders.

The name is cool too. At one time, when my sons were in grade school, we had an upcoming election and my boys couldn't get over the candidates choice on the ballot: Tom Butt, Corky Boozé, and Charles Belcher.

One thing to remember about Richmond, its like a regional small city in the South; the same level of corruption, inter-connected family ties and such. If you pretend its a town in Louisiana, it kind of makes sense how government plays out. It's definitely a spoils system with a few added kooks and characters to keep it amusing.

 

[VicTim]

What sort of asshole pushes an old lady to the ground and drags her around?
Maybe getting his head battered into paste with her cane would teach him that you don't knock around little old ladies. :|

That was racist.

 

[Beauregard]

I have been following him for decades as I was active in Richmond politics to a degree.

Basically, he got involved in City Council because he didn't want to clean up his yard (he's got a yard on Carlson, I think, with a bunch of "valuable treasures" as my Dad likes to call his own junkpile up in the country). I kid you not. He is sort of like our Fred Sanford, without the charm. He had to keep appearing at Council meetings to fight the notices, etc. and lived through a few reforms periods, when the city aggressively cleaned up crack houses and blight (the short but inspirational time of Henry Tingle, public works director; ol Henry couldn't survive the heat he generated towing cars and such).

He ran over and over again unsuccessfully, then he finally won. He's a nice enough guy in person but you have seen some of his shenanigans since taking office. In fact, he's friendlier than a lot of our past leaders.

The name is cool too. At one time, when my sons were in grade school, we had an upcoming election and my boys couldn't get over the candidates choice on the ballot: Tom Butt, Corky Boozé, and Charles Belcher.

One thing to remember about Richmond, its like a regional small city in the South; the same level of corruption, inter-connected family ties and such. If you pretend its a town in Louisiana, it kind of makes sense how government plays out. It's definitely a spoils system with a few added kooks and characters to keep it amusing.

Thanks for the perspective. As an elected city official (sounds so cool, but it's not nearly) I'm glad to have some context. Sounds like the culture in Richmond is a little different than here. Yeah. Just a little.

 

[}Dragon{]

Thanks for the perspective. As an elected city official (sounds so cool, but it's not nearly) I'm glad to have some context. Sounds like the culture in Richmond is a little different than here. Yeah. Just a little.

It's like Mars, but there is less junk and crack.:|

 

[Bay Arean]

I have been thinking about ol' Corky since the OP. I will tell you this about Richmond politics: It's just as likely that he DIDN'T do what was described as did. That's how the feuds go here, they get personal. So don't necessarily accept the charge at face value. Remember the big long and failed lawsuit against Magnus. Emblematic of spoils, expectations and disappointment.

the thing that has rankled me for years are some of the political organizations: The Black Firefighters and the Black Men and Women political action group, who work behind the scenes in every election, always wi' the race card held high. It's so obscenely transparent by the "it's our turn (to be corrupt and power-mad)" crowd that any notions of merit are at the bottom of any priority. Ol Jim McMillan (founder of BMW) and I had some interesting exchanges back in the day. In such a diverse town, it's just ugliness, though I understand the older generation still grinding their axes from the days of discrimination. Electing a progressive for Mayor was a weird step forward, I have to say, even though I'm not so sure she's been a resounding success.